Warwick’s Foster named Army baseball head coach

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 6/30/16

Wherever Warwick native James Thomas “Jim” Foster has played – or coached – baseball, he has known nothing less than sparkling success.

He was an All-State catcher and led Bishop …

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Warwick’s Foster named Army baseball head coach

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Wherever Warwick native James Thomas “Jim” Foster has played – or coached – baseball, he has known nothing less than sparkling success.

He was an All-State catcher and led Bishop Hendricken to the state championship. That trend continued at Providence College, where he led the one-time powerful Friars to the Big East championship.

The son of Jim and Sue Foster, he enjoyed even more success after being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and spending nearly a decade in the Minor Leagues where his stardom continued.

During the past 14 years, Foster has developed a reputation as a winner and one of the nation’s top collegiate coaches. Most importantly, he has done so – players, opposing coaches and administrators will attest – with nothing less than extraordinary work ethic, class, character and a love for the national pastime and his players.

Perhaps that’s why Boo Corrigan, the athletic director at Army West Point, last Friday introduced Foster as the United States Military Academy’s new head baseball coach.

“After an extensive national search, we are extremely pleased to announce Jim Foster as our new head baseball coach,” Corrigan told media members last Friday in New York. “Jim brings a wealth of winning experience and his commitment to excellence while upholding a standard fits well with our dedication to duty, honor and country.”

Corrigan also noted that he is confident Foster – who spent nine years as URI’s head coach and the last two seasons as Associate Head Coach at Boston College – “Will lead our baseball program to new levels of success and support our mission of developing leaders at West Point. We could not be more excited for Jim and his wife Narelle, and their children Madison, Courtney, Delany and Bo, along with our cadets and members of the Army baseball family.”

Foster, meanwhile, is elated and yesterday told the Warwick Beacon in an exclusive interview that he’s “super excited and honored to become the head baseball coach at the United States Military Academy.”

“I want to thank Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, Boo Corrigan and the rest of the leadership at Army West Point for the opportunity to lead its baseball program and have my family be a part of this great community,” Foster added. “It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to be here today. Our mission is to recruit and develop scholar athletes that can lead the Corps, and compete and win at the highest level.”

Foster also announced that “we will put together a tremendous group of coaches who will provide the instruction and leadership necessary to accomplish that mission.”

He did not mention any names of possible assistant coaches, but emphasized: “It’s an incredible place at West Point. I’m really excited about being here; it’s a great place to raise a family and Narelle and our children will be around some great people.”

Foster also noted “this is indeed a special place and the facilities are beautiful; they’re absolutely first class. Once I had an opportunity to see the entire operation, I said I’d like to coach here.”

The Hendricken and PC alum said what he’s really excited about is that “the kids I’ll be coaching will all have high character … they’re leaders … leaders of this country and business world, that’s what I’m really excited about. I want to help these kids on and off the field; I’ll be there for them and help them play and compete at the highest level.”

It was that philosophy that during the past two years enabled Boston College to have new-found success in the pitching and hitting departments and led the Eagles to a berth in this year’s NCAA Super Regionals.

Two of Foster’s Boston College pitchers – Mike King and Justin Dunn – were taken in the recent MLB player draft and both chuckers enjoyed record-setting seasons under his tutelage.

Foster led URI to a record six consecutive 30-win baseball seasons from 2008 to 2013 for the first time in the program’s history. He also led the Rams to eight consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship appearances and he produced 28 All-Conference selections, 21 All-New England players, three All-Americans as well as three A-10 Pitchers of the Year and two A-10 Players of the Year.

His father Jim Foster, who is no stranger to baseball and has also enjoyed success coaching American Legion Baseball, said “I’m excited and happy for my son. Jimmy has always been a hard worker; he has always outworked everybody. I am proud of him; he deserves this great honor of coaching the United States Military Academy baseball team.”

Foster’s father, who has been a fixture at his son’s games throughout his career, paused before adding: “I’m thrilled for Jimmy. Nothing ever came easy for him; he’s always worked hard for everything he ever got.”

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  • Littleleague

    Fantastic, what a testament to hard work, Foster tradition and Warwick native. Congrats & good luck.

    Thursday, July 7, 2016 Report this